1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth ? are not his days also like the days of an hireling ? 2As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow , and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work : 3So am I made to possess months of vanity , and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4When I lie down , I say , When shall I arise , and the night be gone ? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day . 5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust ; my skin is broken , and become loathsome . 6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle , and are spent without hope .
The Nature of Human Existence
7O remember that my life is wind : mine eye shall no more see good . 8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away : so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more . 10He shall return no more to his house , neither shall his place know him any more. 11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth ; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit ; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul .
Job's Plea for Understanding
12Am I a sea , or a whale , that thou settest a watch over me? 13When I say , My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint ; 14Then thou scarest me with dreams , and terrifiest me through visions : 15So that my soul chooseth strangling , and death rather than my life . 16I loathe it; I would not live alway : let me alone ; for my days are vanity .
The Burden of Sin and Guilt
17What is man , that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18And that thou shouldest visit him every morning , and try him every moment ? 19How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle ? 20I have sinned ; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men ? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 21And why dost thou not pardon my transgression , and take away mine iniquity ? for now shall I sleep in the dust ; and thou shalt seek me in the morning , but I shall not be .